Automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments.



No. 844,987; PATENTED FEB. 19,- 1907.

' P. WUBST, JR. AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM FOR'MUSIOAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYM. 1906.

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PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

P. WUEST, JR. AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 14.1906.

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NHNVNNN wibbw No. 844,987. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907. P. WUEST IR. AUTOMATIC FLAYING MEGHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION EI'LED JULYl l, 1906.

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WITNESSES:

No. 844,987. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907. P. WUEST, JR. AUTOMATIC PLAYING 'MBGHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYl. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP woEsr, JR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,- AssIonoH ro THE AUTO-MANUAL PIANO ACTION COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY; j Y

AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM FOR MUsIOAL' IN T UME TS.

To a whom, it may concern:

vBe it known that I, PHILIP WUEsT, Jr., of

Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,

similar instruments, and of the kind comprising a series of pneumatic motors or strike-pneumatics respectively in operative relation to the individual sounding devices, and individual valve mechanisms controlled by a web of perforatedpaper, which is progressed with respect to a pneumatictrackerbar provided with a series of apertures corresponding with a series of sounding devices.

Prior devices of this class-are of two general typesfirs t, instruments wherein all of the pneumatic-valve mechanisms and strikepneumatics are mounted in a single chest common to all of them and'consisting of a number of partition-boards grooved, fitted, and glued together to form valve-chambers and wind-ducts leading to and from the same; second, instruments wherein a plurality of substantially' similar valve-casing sections or shelves aredisposed in cooperative relation, each containing a divisional number of said valve mechanisms.

The first typeof construction aforesaid is disadvantageous because all of the valvechambers beingrigidly related the contrac tion and expansion in different parts thereof causes accidental communication between the pneumatic ducts, which should ,be' sepa rate, and becausej'to'repair or remove any one valve it is necessary to manipulate the entire valve-chest.

The second type of construction above I specified, although advantageous in that the adjustment or repair of' any valve mechanism .or strike-pneumatic is facilitated by hm-' iting the number and extent of the parts which must be removed toaflord access there: to, is more costly to manufacture than the I y p gage-d with the sounding devices o first type aforesaid".

It is the object ofmy present invention to provide a structure which shall have the ad} Specification of Letters Patent. ApplicatioiifiledJuly14,1906. Serial 115326.192. I ,g

matic'bellows 4, arranged in instrument.

meager-1 a. '19,;"1ec7 vantages of both types of prior construct on aforesaid; and tot-his end I provide gle valve-casing or shelf containing all QI)..-'FI1P valve mechanisms"arranged to controlggthe entire series of strike-pneumatics and'carry ing a limited number of said strike-pneumatics, and employ with said single valvechest separable shelves carrying divisional numbers of the strike-pneumatics alone. It may be noted that the improved structure can be more economically manufactured than the devices of the prior art, for the reasonthat the valve-chambers, which are formed by boring operations, are localized in a singleboard shelf or casing, as distinguished from the plurality of shelves or casings heretofore employed, which require separate manipulation for the boring opera tions. v

My invention comprehends the various novel features. of construction and. arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a plan view of a structure conveniently em: bodying my improvements. QFig. II is an elevation of the front of said structure as shown in Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical sectional view of said structure, taken on the line III III in Figs. I and VIII. Fig. IV is a plan sectional view of said structure, taken on the plan sectional view of said structureftak en on the line V V in Figs. II and VIII. Fig.

'VI is a plan sectional view of said structure,

taken on the line VI VI in Figs. II and VIII.

Fig. VII is a plan sectional view of said structure, taken on the line VII VII in Figs] II and VIII. Fig. VIII is a vertical sectional view of said structure, t aken on the linejVIII VIII in Figs. I to VII, inclusive. Fig. IX is an elevation'of the rightehand end of said structure as shown I ig. II. I c

In said drawingsfl is thesihgle val 1 ing or shelf, which is surmounted by 1 arable shelves 2 and 3, eachsuppor visional number ofthe' set WOILSVIT that their leaves 5 may be 'oper Said casing 1 incloses tl uni'-c.haniber 6 and. comprises the bottom loo board 7, the removable top cover-board 8,

and the removable front duct-board 9, which latter is also connected in removable relation with the shelves 2 and 3 aforesaid and carries the '.unctionbar and guide-bar 11.

x T 'e flexible tubes 14 extend from respective apertures in a tracker-bar (not shown) through a ertures in the guide-bar 1 1 and are connect'e to nipples 15 in the junction-bar 10, which register with ducts 16, extending through said bar, front duct-board, 9 and bottom board- 7 and terminate in respective vacuum being maintained in said chamber through the exhaust-conduits 28, during the operation of the instrument. 1

Referring to Fig. VIII, it may be observed that the valves 22 and 23 at the right-hand side of the chamber 6. control the strikepneum'atics, which are secured to the bottom of the casing 1, such control being effected through the duct 30, which extendsthrough the top cover-board 8 and bottom board 7.

Theval'ves 22 and 23 at the middle and left-.

hand side of said chamber 6 respectively control the strike-pneumati'cssupported by the respective shelves 2 and?) through the respective ducts 32 and 34, extending through the top cover-board 8, the front duct-board 9, and said respective shelves 2 and 3.

The form of my invention illustrated is arranged to cooperate with the sounding devices of a piano in which the inner ends of some of the digitals are diverged to avoid the sup orts for the action; Accordingly the stfri e-pneumatics are arranged in four groups with sufiicient space between them for said supports, each pneumatic being in registry with its respective sounding device.

As it is desirable that the ducts 32 and 34 sh all be separated by walls of maximum thickness, they are spacedequally in the front duct-board 9, and offset recesses 33 and 35 are provided for connection with the unequally-spaced ducts in the. respective shelves 2 and 3, as best shown in Figs. IV and V.

Referring to Figs.- VI and VII, it may be observed that the staggered relation of the valve-chambers 20 and the diaphragm-seats 18, which register therewith, permits the locationof all of said valves 22 and 23 in a single board, which may be readily removed from the casing 1 when it is desired to repair or adjust said valves.

The structure including the casing 1 and shelves 2 and 3 is supported beneath the keyboard of a piano by brackets comprisin knee-irons 40 and 41, which may be conveniently secured to said keyboard.

The knee-iron 40, which is adjacent to the free ends of the strike-pneumatics, is provided with apertures fitted to the screws .43, which secure the structure in riid relation,

.so as to withstand the thrust of the strikeneumatics; but the knee i'ron 41, which is adjacent to the hinged ends of said strikepncumaties, is provided with apertures 45, which are larger than the diameter of the screws 46 to permit the ex ansion and con traction of the boards due to atmospheric changes. It may be observed that by the last-described arrangement of their supports the strike-piieurnatics 4 are always ma ntained in proper relation to the piano-action regardless of changes due to atmospheric conditions.

Referring to Figs. II, VIII, and IX,-'1t may be observed that the ends 50 of the knee-irons 40 and 41 extend below the strike-pneuniatics attached to the bottomof the casing 1, so as to support the crime structure and prevent acci ental displacement of said neumatics when said structure is removed from titepiano-cas1ng As shown in Fig. VIII, the strike-pneumatics 4 are conveniently secured by brads 52, inserted through apertures 53 in tlieir respective movable leaves 5, said apertures being normally closed by the covers 55, of paper or other suitable material.

When any strike-pneumatic is brought into action (for instance, the lower one shown n section in Fig. VIII) as the result of a perforation in the web registering with 1ts respective aperture in the tracker-bar, atmospheric pressure is admitted through the flexible tube 14: and duct 16 to the diaphragm-seat 18 and uplifts the diaphragm 19 and its corresponding valves 22 and 23, thereby closing the opening 25, leading to the atmosphere, and contemporaneously establishing communication between the vacuumwliamber 6 and the strike-pneumatic 4, througl'i the opening 26 and duct 30, to collapse said strike-pneumatic, and there'- by operate its respective sounding device.

In like manner the strike-pneumatics mounted on the shelves 2 and 3, above the chest 1, may be operated by their respective valves through the respective ducts 82 and 3 1.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details, of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended clalms.

1. In. an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of saidcasing; shelves above and distinct fi'omsaid matics, substantially casing; strike-pneumatics mounted on said shelves; and, valves in said casing,'arranged to respectively control all of said sirike pneuas set forth.

2. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; snelves above and distinct from said casing; ducts connecting said shelves with said casing; strikeneumatics mounted on said shelves; and, valves in said casing, ar-

ranged to control said strike-pneumatics through said ducts, substantially as set forth.

, 3. In an automatic playing device, the

combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; strikeneumatics mounted on said shelves; valves in said casing, arranged to control said strike-pneumatics; and, pneumatics arranged to control said valves, substantially as set forth.

4. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; strike-pneumatics mounted on said shelves; valves in said casing, arranged to control said strikepneumatics; and, pneumatics in said casing arranged to control said valves, substantially as set forth,

5. In an automatic playing device, the

combination with a valve-casing; ofst'rike pneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; a duct-board connecting said casing with said shelves; strike-pneiunatics mounted on said shelves; and, valves in said'casing arranged to control said strike-pneumatics, substantially as set forth.

6. Iii-fan automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct'from' said casing; aduct-board forming a cover for said casing and a support for said shelves strikepneumatics mounted on said shelves; valves in said casing, arranged to control the strikepneumatics on said shelves through respective ducts in said board, substantially as set iorth.

7. In an automatic laying device, the combination with a va ve-casing; of strike pneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; strike-pneumatics mounted on said shelves;' valves in said casing arranged to control said strike-pneumatics; and, brack ets arranged to connect and support said casing and shelves, substantially as set forth.

8. In an automatic laying device, the combination with a va ve-casing; of strike pneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said shi ves; valves in said casing arranged to -rol said strike-pneumaties; and,'brack etsarranged to connect and support'said casing and shelves, in suchrelation as to permit expansion and contraction of the parts, substantially as set forth. a

9. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing;- of a ductboard forming one cover of said casing; shelves distinct from said casing connected by said board; brackets rigidly connecting said shelves and said casing; and brackets loosely connecting said shelves and said casing in such relation asto permit the expansion and contraction of the parts, substantially as set forth.

10. In an automatic playing device, the

combination with a valve-casing; of a ductboard forming one cover of said casing; shelves distinct from said casing connected by said board; brackets securing said shelves and easing, having screw-apertures Whose diameters are equal to the diameters of the securing-screws extending therethrough; and, brackets securing said shelves and casing having screw-apertures whose diameters are larger than the securing-screws extending therethrough, substantiall r as set forth.

1 In an automatic p aying device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; a duct-board; shelves above and distinct from said casing secured to said board; strike-pneumatics on said shelves arranged in definite relation to the respective sounding devices of the piano and, valves in said casing arranged to control said strike-pneu matics, substantia ly as set forth.

12. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing of valves in said casing; shelves distinctfrom said casing; strike-pneumatics on said shelves arranged in definite relation to the sounding devices of a piano; a duct-board connecting said casing and shelves, comprising ducts, equally spaced, leading from said valves to said strike-pneumatics; and, offset recesses in said ducts, substantially as set forth.

13. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing of valves in said casing, arranged in staggered relation; shelves distinct from said casing; strikepneumatics on said shelves arranged in definite relation to the sounding devices of a piano; a.duct-board connecting said casing and shelves, comprising ducts, equally spaced, leading from said valves to said strike-pneumatics; and, ofiset recesses in said ducts, substantially as set forth.

14-. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing; of strikepneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; strike-pneumatics mounted on said casing; strike-pneumatics mounted on said shelves; valves in said casing. arranged to control-the strike-'pneumatics'on said shelves;

pneumaticsarranged to operate "said valves;

and, ducts arranged "to connect said pneumatics with the. atmosphere, substantially as set'forth.

15. In' an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casing comprising a' bottom board, and top cover-board; of strike-pneumatics'mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casingfa duct-board connecting said shelves and said casing; and ,valves in said casingarranged to control said strike-pneumatics through ducts extending inthe top coverboard, duct-board and respective shelves, substantially as set forth.

16. In an automatic playing device, the combination With-a valve-casing comprising a bottom board and top cover-board; of

strike pneumatics mounted on the bottom of said casing; shelves above and distinct from said casing; a duct-board connecting said shelves and said casing; valves insaid casing-arranged'to control said stril epneu' matlcs through ducts extending in the top casing, arrangedtocontrol said strike-pneu matics through'ducts extending in the top cover board, duct-board. and respective shelves; pneumatic-s in the bottom board,

arranged to. actuate said valves; and, ducts arranged to connect said pneumatics with the atmosphere, substantially as set forth.

'18. In an automatic playing device, the combination with a valve-casingcomprising a bottomboard, top cover-board, and a front duct-"board, having a'series of ducts equally spaced; of shelves secured to said duct-board, having ducts arranged 111 groups and provided with ofi'set recesses, arranged to regis- .ter with the ducts in said duct-board strikepneumatics mounted on said shelves in registry with the ducts therein; and, valves 1n said casing arranged to control said strikeneumatics,substantially as set forth.

19. In an automatic playingdevice, the combination with a valve-casing comprising .a'hottom board, top cover-board, and a front duct-board, having a series of ducts equally spaced; of shelves secured to said duct-board, having ducts arranged in groups and provided with offset recesses, arranged to reg- 'ister with the ducts in said duct-board; stril epneumatics mounted on said shelves in reg- "istry with the ducts therein; valves in said a bottom board, top cover-board, and frontduct-board having a series of ducts equally spaced; shelves secured to said duct-board, having ducts arrangedin groups and provided with offset recesses, arranged to register with the ducts in saidduct-board stri kepneumatics mounted on said shelves in registry with the-ducts therein; valves in said casing, arranged to control said strike-pneumatics; diaohragm-pneumatics arranged to control said valves ducts in said bottom board leading to said diaphragmpneumatics and, a ju'nction-barcomprising ducts in registry With the ducts in said bottom board, substantially as set forth.

. In testimony whereof 'I have hereunto signed my'name, at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, this 13th day of July, 1906.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA F. GET FRnA-n.

I PHILIP WUEST, JR. I 

